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BIRDS OF THE BRITISH EMPIRE. 



THE RAILS. 



Family — Rallidce. 



Genus — 1. PorpJiyrio. P . poliocephaliis. Grey-headed 



Porphyrio. 

 2. Gallinnla. G. pJiceniaira. White-breasted 



Gallinule. 



Grey-Headed Porphyrio. — This bin! is found all over 

 India and in Ceylon. It is of social habits, and frequents 

 tanks, jheels, the banks of rivers, etc., in laroje numbers. 



The nest is made close to the water, of rushes, grasses, 

 etc., and contains six or eight buff-coloured eggs, with 

 numerous red spots. 



The head, space round the eyes, lores, cheeks, back of 

 liead, and nape are purple grey, passing on the sides of the 

 neck to pure purple at the back of the neck. The back, 

 upper tail coverts, and wing coverts are pale blue ; the 

 quills are dark blue, with dusky webs ; the tail feathers are 

 black, edged with dull blue. Underneath, the lower half of 

 the cheeks, chin, and throat are pale sky blue, more or less 

 tinged with purple grey, passing into pure blue on tlie 

 lower part of the neck and the breast ; the abdomen, sides 

 and vent are deep purple, the under tail coverts white, the 

 lower wing coverts pale blue, the bill red, with a deeper 

 red spot near the base of both mandibles ; the casque 

 cherry red, eyes brick red, and the legs pale brick red. 



The grey-headed porphyrio measures 18^ inches in 

 extreme length, of which 4 are comprised in the tail. 



White-Breasted Gallinule, or Water Hex. — The 

 upper plumage is black, with green reflections, especially on 

 the wing coverts. The chin, throat, and breast are white ; 

 the lower abdomen and under tail coverts are deep chestnut; 



